Clean sweep as Dapto takes youth grade

Dapto Dandaloo came from a goal and a man down to clean sweep every trophy available to them this season, with a gripping extra-time youth grade grand final win over Wollongong United on Saturday.

Kieran Morris' glancing header from a pinpoint Luke Boersma free kick, barely two minutes into the first period of extra time, sealed the 2-1 win for Craig Thompson's side which finished the campaign as league, grand final and Bert Bampton Cup winners.

Wollongong United were on course to make sure their first visit to a youth grade grand final would be a happy one after Danny Petrovski turned home Mark Every's centre 10 minutes before the interval.

Their grip on the trophy appeared to strengthen when the Fury's imposing centre half Aaron Francis was shown red for a 52nd-minute lunge on Nick Ristevski.

But Dapto Dandaloo equalised when Josh Bingham calmly converted from the spot after Christian Lovatt was adjudged to have fouled Shaun McRae and Morris sealed the deal in extra time. "It was a gutsy performance really - it wasn't good football [on Saturday]," Thompson said. "We played poorly in that respect, but we got the job done on determination, ball pressure and working hard when we didn't have the ball.

"When we kicked off at the beginning of the year, we thought we would go all right. People don't understand that all these boys train with first grade. We've got three internationals at the club, so our training is super."

Thompson paid tribute to Todd Sparks' man- of-the-match performance. "He's out on his feet, he makes a five-yard dash and throws his leg up. It's great work and he has been an inspiration all year. They gave me everything they've got and half of them can hardly walk in there. You can't ask for much more."